2025 Winner, Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pouamu Award for a book translated into Te reo Māori - NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults
He nui ngā mānuka ka takoto i mua i te aroaro o Ariā me ōna hoa i a rātou e kake ana i ngā whetū, e kimi ana i a Whānui, ā, māna e whakaora mai ngā māra kūmara o te ao, engari kua ara kē mai ko Matariki. Ko tā te pūkōrero, tā Witi Ihimaera, he whakaora mai i te tikanga o te kōrero pūrākau ki tēnei paki whakaaweawe kua whakamāorihia e Hēni Jacob. Ko te tikanga, me pānui ā-waha, ā, mā te rōnaki o te reo, me ngā whakaahua whakamīharo e kukume mai te tamaiti, kia kite ai ia i a ia anō e hāereere ana i te taha o Ariā. Waihoki, mā tēnei pukapuka e tahuri ai te iwi ki te kōrero mō te hiranga o Matariki.
Ariā and her fellow apprentices face many challenges as they climb to the stars in search of Whānui, to save the world’s dying kūmara crops – but Matariki is already rising. Master storyteller Witi Ihimaera brings the wisdom of traditional pūrākau to life in an inspirational tale that has been translated expertly by Hēni Jacob. Meant to be read aloud, the smoothly flowing reo and captivating illustrations will draw tamariki in, so they feel they are travelling alongside Ariā on her quest. This pukapuka will also provide a platform to spark conversation about the significance of Matariki.
Ariā and the Kūmara God, the gripping sequel to The Astromancer - translated into te reo Māori by Heni Jacob.
Koia tēnei, ko te paki whakaihiihi e whai mai ana i Te Kōkōrangi.
Noho mōrearea ana ngā rā ki tua: kua mauheretia a Te Kōkōrangi e te hoariri kino, e Ruatapu, waihoki, e matemate katoa ana ngā māra kūmara.
Me mātua whai a Ariā mā — tae atu ki a Kurī — i te ara uaua a Tāwhaki. Me piki ki ngā rangi, ka inoi ai i a Whānui kia āwhina mai.
Heoi anō, me kamakama tonu, i te mea kua tata te putanga o Matariki. Āe rānei ka tutuki i a rātou tēnei kakenga mutunga mai o te uaua . . .
Witi Ihimaera was the first Māori to publish both a book of short stories and a novel, and has published many notable novels, collections of short stories and in 2020 published his substantial nonfiction work, Navigating the Stars. Described by Metro magazine as 'Part oracle, part memoralist,' and 'an inspired voice, weaving many stories together', Ihimaera has also written for stage and screen - including libretti - edited books on the arts and culture, as well as published various works for children.
Isobel Te Aho-White (Ngati Kahungunu, Ngai Tahu) is an Illustrator based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.